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World Cup qualifying: Austria 1 Germany 2

Germany were made to work for a 2-1 victory over Austria in Vienna as Joachim Loew's side earned a second straight World Cup qualifying win.

Marco Reus gave the visitors the lead on the stroke of half-time, and Mesut Oezil made it two from the penalty spot shortly after the break.

Zlatko Junuzovic pulled one back for the Austrians to ensure a nervy ending to match but the visitors held on for the victory in Group C.

Just a couple of minutes were on the clock when Mats Hummels sprayed a wayward pass to Julian Baumgartlinger, who sent an inch-perfect ball to Martin Harnik. The Stuttgart star was preparing himself to apply the finish, but Holger Badstuber got across to make a fantastic tackle and save his defensive partner's blushes.

Seconds later, a calamitous defensive error almost led to a goal at the other end as Robert Almer sliced a clearance with Miroslav Klose lurking, but the ball bounced away from the 34-year-old.

Neither side had settled, and another lapse at the back presented Harnik with a chance that he screwed wide, before Klose failed to capitalise on a shoddy clearance.

Harnik and Andreas Ivanschitz had driven a long-range effort apiece wide, before Germany finally started to click. Toni Kroos had a couple of shots from distance which failed to break the deadlock, and Thomas Mueller brilliantly met Oezil's free kick, only for Almer to get down low and make an excellent save.

Austria had appeals for a penalty turned down when Badstuber appeared to fell Harnik after the Stuttgart man reacted quickly to a quickly taken throw.

The visitors broke through on the scoreboard when Klose collected the ball with his back to goal and laid off a cute pass to Reus, who coolly cut inside Gyorgy Garics and struck the ball into the bottom corner.

German nerves were finally settled, and they began the second half in the same manner they ended the first. Kroos attempted to cut the ball back from the byeline to Muller, only for Veli Kavlak to clatter into the Bayern attacker, and Oezil made no mistake from the spot.

The Real Madrid playmaker almost created another chance instantly, but Mario Goetze, who had expertly taken the ball around Almer, saw his effort rightly disallowed.

The two-goal lead lasted for just a matter of minutes. Marko Arnautovic raced down the right wing, left Marcel Schmelzer for dead and delivered a precise pass into the middle of the park, and Junuzovic darted in front of the static Hummels and diverted it home.

Germany immediately set about trying to re-establish a two-goal buffer, and Philipp Lahm almost proved to be the difference, delivering two crosses, one of which was almost diverted past Almer by an Austrian.

Austria's potent front line was still proving to be a threat to the visitors, though, and Arnautovic soon exposed Schmelzer's deficiencies at left-back once more, but could not pick out a team-mate with his cross.

up by a tantalising ball from the left wing.

Germany were able to pass the game out and secure a second win from as many matches in their qualifying campaign.